Wheel structure



March 26, 1946. Q A, Y0'N` WHEEL STRUCTURE Filed sein. e, 1943 I z-ZVE' 421- l @faece- LsE-.er vom Patented Mar. 26, 1946 2,397,360 WHEEL STRUCTURE George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, N. J.

Application September 6, 1943,

Serial No. 501,345

3 claims. (c1. sol- 37) This invention is directed to an improved wheel structure and relates more particularly to a novel cover assembly therefor.

It is an important object of the invention to provide for a wheel structure, an improved cover assembly having a novel retaining arrangement whereby it is securely maintained in removable relationship over the outer side of the wheel structure to conceal the outer side of the wheel.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wheel cover having a radially outer annular part formed from sheet synthetic plastic material or the like and having physical charac# teristics enabling it to be form retainingy and self-supporting and yet resiliently, locally deiiectable whereby it immediately snaps back into its initial position upon the release of the deecting forces, this cover part being of minimum weight and thus decreasing the unsprung Weight of a vehicle with which it is associated.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide for a wheel structure, a multi-part cover assembly including a radially outer annular portion and a central circular hub cap simulating portion, these portions being maintained together and detachably secured on the outer side of a wheel structure by improved retaining means.

synthetic sheet material or the like, said annular part y, having a cross-sectional configuration whereby it extends radially over the outer side of the radially outer portion of a wheel structure and also substantially simulates the curvature of the side wall of a tire associated with said wheel structure to give the appearance of being a part thereof and to give the appearance of a white side on a massive tire mounted in a wheel structure of minimum dimensions, when colored white.

l Still a further object of the invention is to provide for a wheel structure a cover including a portion arranged to overlie the radially outer parts of the wheel structure and a portion arranged to overlie the central portion thereof, the junction between said portions being arranged to receive retaining means in detachable engagement, said retaining means including members having cover retaining parts and inwardly lextending wheel engaging parts- In accordance with the general features of the invention there is provided a multi-part cover assembly having a radially outer annular portion formed from synthetic plastic or the like and having physical characteristics enabling it to be self-sustaining as to form and yet resiliently iiexible, whereby it will snap back immediately into its initial position upon the release of distorting pressures therefrom, the said cover part having a cross-sectional configuration enabling it to substantially simulate the side wall of a tire in thev tire rim to give the appearance of being a continuation thereof and thus the white side wall of a massive tire mounted on a wheel structure of minimum dimensionwhen colored White, there also' being provided a central c ircular hub cap simulating member having a radially outer portion arranged to detachably receive the inner edge of the radial cover portion, the cover assembly being retained over the outer side of a wheel structure by virtue of retaining means including an annular part attached to the wheel structure at a radially inner portionl thereof and radially outwardly extending resilient Acover retaining means for engaging the central cover parts and thus maintaining the entire assembly upon the wheel structure.

In accordance with another form of the invention, there is provided herein a cover includingA a circular, integral assembly including a ra-` dially outwardly extending annular portion and a central circular portion, said cover being formed from synthetic plastic or the like and having physical characteristics enabling it to be self-supporting as to form ectable, said cover being formed at an intermediate portion thereof With an annular wheel engaging part and an annular retaining portion for maintaining the same over the wheel structure. 1 Y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following descripwhich: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheel structure embodying one form of my invention, parts being broken away for illustrative purposes;

Figure 2l is a fragmentary radial cross-sectional vieW of a Wheel structure such as that shownin Figure 3is a fragmentary radial cross-sectional view of a modiiiedA form of the invention; and Figure 4 is a radial cross-sectional view of still a further modified form of the invention.

It will be understood that the embodiments shown herein are for illustrative purposes only and may be changed or modifiedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the Aappended claims.

and yet resiliently de-V l valve stem I 9 The wheel structure shown in Figures 1 and 2,

with which my invention is associated, includesr structure, air circulation apertures I2b, which, l

as shown in Figure 1 are disposed' along the junction between the tire rim part I and the central load bearing portion I2.

The central load bearing portion' I2 is further' provided at the radially inner part thereof with a central bolt-on flange I3 which may be utilized for securing the wheel structure to an appropriate part of the vehicle such as the brake drum or the like.

The tire rim IU is further provided with opposite side wall anges I4, opposite intermediate flanges I5 and opposite edge porti-ons I6,between 'which is adapted to be disposed the radially inner l1 having an inner tube I8 and a which extends through a suitable aperture in the adjacent side wall flange I4. s

The cover assembly shown hereinv includes a part of a tire radially outer annular portion and a central circular hub cap simulating portion 2|. The- `cover` part 20 is constructed from sheet synthetic plastic material and has physical characteristics enabling it tc. be self-supporting as to form and `yet resiliently, locally deiiectable whereby it may be sprung outwardly at the radially outer part thereof to permit the insertion of a pry-oli tool therebehind as will be explained presently. Thus, when the `deiiecting pressure is released therefrom, it will immediately snap back into the position shown in Figure 2. This coverV member preferably is provided with an aperture 20a through which the Valve stem I9 may protrude to be accessible for the application of a nozzle of an air Y hose thereto for iniiation of the tire.

As will bevseen from Figure 2, the cover member 2U is provided with a cross-sectional configuration of such expanse that the radially outer margin 2Gb thereofv extends radially outwardly beyond `the edge portion I 6 of the tire rim I0 .and over the` adjacent portion of the outer side wall of the tire I1, thus to conceal the junction between the tire rim and the tire. Furthermore, in order to present a smooth riding surface to the side wall` of the tire during lateral expansion thereof under load bearing conditions, the portion 2Gb of the cover part 20 is ared radially, axially outwardly asshown.

The central hub cap simulating cover member 2l is preferably circular in form and is provided at the radially outer margin thereof with a radially inwardly, axiallyy inwardly, obliquely disposed flange 2m which terminates in a circular bead 2| b. If desired, theA central hub cap member 2| may also be formed from synthetic plastic sheet material, however, in order to facilitate the retention' thereof upon the wheel structure ina manner to be presently described, this cover portion is preferably formed from thin sheet metal. Furthermore, the metal is well adapted to take an `enamel finish to provide a contrasting effect with the cover portion 2li or, if desired, it may benished to provide a luster as by chromium plating or a polishing process.

As will be seen from Figure 2, the cover member 20 extends radially inwardly beyond the junction between the tire rim and the central load bearing portion of the wheel structure so that the radially inner margin 20c thereof is disposed in surface abutting engagement with the outer surface of the flange 20a with the edge abutting the nip or corner formed between the bead 2Ib and the flange 2Ia. Preferably the cover member is assembled into a unitary structure as above described by aligning the cover members concentrically with respect to one another with the cover member 26 axially inwardlyl of the cover member 2|, whereupon axial outward movement of the radially outer annular cover member causes the same to yield at the inner margin thereof so that the portion 20c may be snapped securely into the position shown in Figure 2.

'Ifo the end that the cover assembly as above described may be securely retained in detachable engagement upon the wheel structure, there is provided herein a retaining assembly which in cludes an annulus 22 having a radially inner portion 23 disposed in surface engagement with the adjacent portion of the outer surface of the bolt-on iiange I3, these parts being welded or riveted together as shown at 24. The flange 23 merges into an obliquely disposed iiange 25 which is arranged for surface abutment with a portion I2C of the central load bearing part, this portion 25 of the retaining member 22 merging around the outer surface of the central load bearing portion I2 of the wheel as shown at 25. The annular portion of the retaining member, including parts 23, 25 and 25, is provided at the radially outer edge thereof with a plurality of radially outwaidly extending, circumferentially spaced re taining elements including arms 21 which preferably lie in surface engagement with the adjacent portion of the outer surface of the central load bearing portion I2 and radially inwardly, substantially axially outwardly disposed resilient fingers 28.

In applying ,the cover assembly including the parts 20 and 2I to the wheel structure after Athey are assembled in the position shown in Figure2 l to form a unitary cover, it will be seen that it is merely necessary to align the cover concentrically with the wheel structure and particularly the members 21 and 28 of the retaining assembly, whereupon the cover may be urged axially in- `ward1y of the wheel structure and the bead 2lb of the cover member 2l, being resilient, will be forced out of round as it overrides the radially outwardly extending peaks of the'retaining assembly. Thereafter, the bead again snaps back into its circular condition to securely retain the cover assembly in the position shown in Figure 2. In order to removerthe cover assembly from the Wheel structure, it is merely necessary to iiex the vcover member 20 from the radially outer portion thereof to permit the insertion of the point `of a pry-off tool between the wheel structure and the cover assembly, whereupon the radial outward movement of the handle of the pry-off tool with the edge portion I6 as the fulcrum will cause the tip thereofto move axially outwardly against the bead 2lb thereby to force the same axially outwardly over the respective retaining members.

. With sucha construction, it will be seen that there is provided herein al cover assembly inl which the radially outer part is of relatively great expanse and extends from an overlying position with respect to the tire I'l, inwardly beyonduthe junctionY of the tire rim I!) and the central load bearing portion I2 of the whee1-and that the retaining means extends radially outwardly from a radial inward position where it is conveniently attached to the bolt-on flange I3 of the wheel which, as will be seen from Figure 2, is disposed in an axially inwardly "offset position from the radially outer adjacent portion of the wheel structure.

In the construction shown in -Figure 3, the wheel assembly shown is essentially similar to that described in conjunction with Figure 2, however, in this construction the cover parts 29 and 3|), while they may be secured together to provide a unitary structure differ from the construction of Figure 2 in that they engage radially inwardly of the retaining assembly rather than radially outwardly thereof.

In this construction the cover member 29 is provided at the radially inner margin thereof with an annular arcuate formation as shown at 29a, this arcuate formation terminating in a substantially radially outwardly extending lip 29h. The cover member 30 is provided at the radially outer margin thereof with a similarly arcuate portion 39a which terminates in a bead 3012.- The bead Sila is adapted to receive on the radially outer face thereof and in surface engagement therewith, the arcuate annular portion 29a of the cover member 29, while the lip 29h of the cover member 29 is adapted toibe seated against the axially outer face of the bead 30h of the cover member 30. Thus there is provided a unitary structure in which the cover parts are securely maintained together. As .in the case of the construction in Figure 2, the cover members 29 and 3|) may be secured together -by movement of the cover member 29 axially inwardly so that the lip 29 b thereof overrides the bead 30h of the cover member 30 to be disposed inthe position shown in Figure 3.

In this construction the retaining assembly may b'e riveted to the wheel structure as shown at 3|. This retaining assembly includes an annular portion including an inwardly extending flange 32 which is the instrumentality that secures the same to the wheel structure, an intermediate obliquely disposed flange 33 adapted for surface engagement vwith the adjacent portion of the outer surface of the central load bearing portion I2 and a curvate portion 34 which terminates in radially outwardly extending, circumferentially spaced arms 35 which in turn terminate in portions 36 cross-sectionally configurated to provide a substantially radially inwardly extending groove. The retaining fingers are also provided at the radially outer portions thereof to afford radially inwardly extending humps 21 and aligning flanges 38. Thus it will be seen that when the cover assembly is aligned concentrically with the wheel structure and urged axially inwardly, the bead 30h is pressed beyond the portion 31 of the circumferentially spaced ngers whereby these portions flex radially outwardly until the bead has attained the position shown in Figure 3, whereupon the fingers flex radially inwardly to secure the cover assembly upon the wheel structure.

In the construction shown in Figure 4, the tire rim 39 is of a drop center type and provided with a base ange 4|] which is secured to a central load bearing portion 4| by means of it being riveted or welded te the radially outer surface of an axially inwardly extending flange 4| a formed on the central load bearing portion 4|. The central load bearing portion 4| is provided with an axially inwardly off-set integral bolt-on flange 42 while the tire rim is further provided` with opposite side wall flanges 43. opposite intermediate flanges 44 and opposite edge portions 45, b'etween which may be disposed the radially inner parts of a tire 41 having a tire rim 48.

The cover assembly of Figure 4 includes acircular disk-like cover member havingV a radially outer portion y46 and a central circular hub cap simulating portion 41. Preferably this cover is formed from sheet synthetic plastic material, the

Vweight of which is such that` the unsprung weight of the vehicle with which it is associated is greatly reduced. The radially outer annular portion 46 of the cover assembly of Figure 4 is of such crosssectional configuration and magnitude that it simulates the side wall of the tire I6 and completelyy conceals the junction between the tire rim and the tire as by the radially outer marginal portion 46a and extends radially inwardly to a portion of the wheel structure disposed radially inwardly of the junction between the tire rim 39 and the central load bearing portion 4|.

The'cover member is provided between the portions 46 and 41 thereof with a generally radially extending flange 49 which is arranged to lie in abutting surface engagement with the adjacent' portion of the outer surface of the spider or central load bearing portion 4| while this annular intermediate flange 49 is joined to and offset from the crown portion of the central cover member 41 by means of a flange 5|! which preferably extends radially outwardly, axially outwardly to be disposed in a generallyoblique position to facilitate snap-on engagementv of the cover with the wheel structure.

To the end that the cover may b'e retained on the wheel structure, there is provided herein a 'retaining assembly including an annulus 5| which is secured to the central load bearing portion 4| and particularly to the flange 4|b thereof which joins the radially outer Portion to the central bolt-on flange 42, by means of welding or rivetingas shown at 52.

The annulus 5| terminates at the outer edge thereof in circumferentially spaced, outwardly extending resilient iingers or clips including generally axially outwardly, radially outwardly extending, obliquely disposed arm portions 53 and generally radially inwardly extending terminal portions 54. I'he portions 53 being arranged to receive the flange 50 in snap-on pry-off engagement to retain the cover member uponv the wheel structure. It will be seen that when the cover is aligned concentrically with the clip members shown in Figure 4 and is then urged axially inwardly with respect to the wheel structure, the axially inner portion of the flange 50, which prescribes a circle of less diameter than that prescribed by the radially outwardly extending peaks between the portions 53 and 54 of the retaining member passes over said peaks by virtue of resilient radial inward flexure of the fingers of the retaining assembly whereby the flange 5|! comes to rest in surface engagement against the portions 53 of the fingers after said fingers have again flexed radially outwardly.

It will be seen that in all forms of the invention the resilient retaining fingers are provided with terminal parts by means of which the portions of the cover which are retainingly engaged, are automatically aligned in concentricity with the wheel structure in the event that the operator has placed them in misalignment before the axial inward movement of the cover member takes place. Furthermore, in all forms of the invention the retaining means is so arranged that the wheel engaging portions thereof extend radially inwardly to be housed beneath the central circular hub cap simulating cover portion of the cover.

What I claim is: l. In a wheel structure having a tire rim and a `central load bearing portion, said central load bearing portion including a bolt on flange disposed in a plane offset axially inwardly from the axially outer extremity'of said load bearing portion, a cover assembly including an outer, relatively frangible, plastic annular part and a relatively rigid central circular hub cap simulating part, said cover parts having the radially inner and radially outer margins thereof respectively arranged f or interlocking engagement to provide a generally axially inwardly extending junction flange intermediate the cover assembly and retaining means having a portion attached to the offset bolt on flange and also having a portion extending radially outwardly therefrom formed at the radially outer terminal thereof` to provide a generally radially extending hump for retainingly engaging the generally axially inwardly extending junction of the cover parts to maintain the cover assembly upon the wheel structure, said terminals Vof said retaining means being turned back thereon axially outwardly and radially inwardly.

2. In a wheel structure having a tire rim and a central load bearing portion, a cover assembly including an outer, relatively frangible, plastic, annular part and a central relatively rigid circular hub cap simulating part, said cover parts having the radially inner and radially outer margins thereof respectively arranged for interlocking engageasiat/36o ment to provide a generally axially inwardly extending junction ange intermediate the cover assembly and retaining means having a portion attached to the central load bearing portion of the wheel inwardly of the hub cap simulating part and a portion formed at a terminal thereof to provide a plurality of generally radially extending humps for retainingly engaging the'generally axially inwardly extending junction flange of the cover parts to maintain the cover assembly upon the wheel structure, said terminals being turned back thereon axially outwardly to form alignment surfaces for the axially inwardly extending junction ange of said cover assembly.

3. In a wheel structure, a wheel including a multi-flanged tire rim part and a' body part hav'- ing an outwardly bulged portion terminating in a depressed central portion and cover retaining spring clips projecting from said depressed central portion axially outwardly beyond and over the bulged portion and a cover for said wheel parts having an annular shoulder snapped over said spring clips opposite said bulged portion and resiliently wedged by said clips against said bulged portion radially outwardly of said depressed central portion, said cover including an outer annular plastic portion for substantially concealing exposed outer side flanges of the rim part and a central hub cap portion connected to said outer annular portion at said shoulder, said outer annular cover portion being resiliently delectable relative to said shoulder and generally axially outwardly from the Wheel without necessitating re-V moval of the cover from the wheel.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

